How do you know that traction will work for you (and you won’t hurt yourself)?

Physiotherapists have used traction as a treatment modality for decades (used medically for over 50 years). There are certain tests that we do to help determine who will benefit or not from traction.

Nowadays you don’t need to see a physiotherapist to have traction with the invention and sale of the inversion table.

WHY WOULD SOMEONE HANG THEMSELVES UPSIDE DOWN?

The rational behind traction:

• Arthritis
  • light separation of the vertebrae (bones) in the spine
• Disc bulges or herniations
  • takes stress off of the discs

 

We, as upright walking humans, are subjected to the law of gravity. I have read over the course of the day we can loose up to 2 cm in height (so always measure your height in the morning). First thing in the morning we also have more fluid and height in the discs in our backs, which is why people with back pain from disc problems (herniations or bulges) often feel more pain in the morning. 

There is a list of contraindications for inversion table use. You should not use an inversion table if you have the following medical conditions:   

Glaucoma
Pregnancy
Hiatal hernia
Ventral hernia
Detached retina
Extreme obesity
Middle ear infection
Arterial hypertension
Severe vascular disease
Anti-Coagulants (use of)
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
Bone weakness, recent fractures
History of congestive heart failure
History of space-occupying brain lesion
Vulnerable areas of stress from recent surgery

WHY SEE A PHYSIOTHERAPIST FIRST?

1. Traction can aggravate the problem.

2. There may be other treatment techniques that would also be helpful.

• IMS
• Exercises
• Manual Therapy
• Education

3. There are several different causes of back pain (www.cbihealth.com).

4. May aggravate conditions in the knees and hips.

Bahram Jam reviewed Spinal Decompression in the APTEI report (www.aptei.com/report winter 2009). In this review, Bahram looks at an article published in Chiropr Osteopat. 2007 May 18; 15:7. This is more of a review based on marketing claims and scientific literature. 

The conclusion drawn is there are few studies that exist supporting spinal traction. 

There was a good study published in Spine 2007 Dec 15: 32 (26) again summarized by Bahram in the APTEI report on who might benefit from traction. 

People with the following symptoms are likely to benefit from traction:

1. Leg symptoms below the knee

2. Signs of nerve root compression (a pinched nerve where it exits the spinal column)

3. Peripheralization of symptoms with extension (backwards bending decreases the pain in your leg)

4. Symptoms down one leg when the other is lifted (positive crossed straight leg raise)

Conventional traction versus inversion tables

(Physiotherapy Theory and Practice (2000) 16, 151 –160 © 2000 Taylor & Francis)

• Randomized controlled – 29 clients with lower back pain and sciatic from disc herniations.
• Both groups benefited (as noted by clinical changes on CT scans) but there was no clinically significant difference between the groups.   

When making the decision to invest in the “spinal decompression” advertised in the newspapers, or on an inversion table, or physiotherapy, I would suggest doing your research and know what you’re getting for your investment. 

IF YOU’RE MOTIVATED:

1. Bahram Jam’s reports: Chiropr Osteopat. 2007 May 18; 15:7 online: (www.aptei.com/report winter 2009) and Spine 2007 Dec 15: 32 (26)

2. (Physiotherapy Theory and Practice (2000) 16, 151 –160 © 2000 Taylor & Francis)

1. http://www.energycenter.com/grav_f/contra.html

2. www.cbihealth.com

We’re online in every place imaginable! Surf our website www.startlinephysiotherapy.com, then be our friend by moseying on over to our Facebook site by hitting the link there. To book an appointment at Start Line, call the clinic at 250-746-7463.